Remarks: Space shuttle "Discovery" has just come to wheels stop after the STS-120 mission to the ISS and while the astros are still onboard throwing the cockpit switches to the off positions, the Self-Contained Atmospheric Protection Ensemble (SCAPE) vehicle has brought the safety team to clear the orbiter.A SCAPE-dressed crew moves to the rear of the orbiter using a high range flammability vapor detector to obtain vapor level readings and to test for possible explosive hazards and toxic gases. Two readings from three different locations are made to determine concentrations of hydrogen, monomethyl hydrazine, and hydrazine and ammonia. If they find that high levels of gases are present, and if wind conditions are calm, the Vapor Dispersal Unit -- the mobile wind machine -- moves into place and blows away the potentially dangerous gases.
Remarks: Space Shuttle Atlantis begins the journey out to launch pad 39-A for the final time, in preparation for the final launch of the 30 year old space shuttle program.
Remarks: Space shuttle "Endeavour" on her death march to Orbiter Processing Facility #02 to be down processed at the end of the STS-134. This picture was taken as she was towed away after her final landing that occurred approx. 4 hours before. The time was needed to make her safe for the technicians to attend to her. In the OPF, the hypegols will be drained. The engines will be removed along with the reaction control pods. After 25 missions, "Endeavour" will also be "mummified" for eternity by having many other important systems removed hence you are seeing her final public moments as a fully functional spacecraft. It will be a museum artifact soon.
Remarks: Space shuttle "Endeavour" clears the lightning rod on Pad 39A at NASA-Kennedy Space Center for the very last time. At this very moment,control is passed from Launch Control at KSC to Mission Control in Houston. The gaseous clouds seen are a combination of the main engine exhausts,solid rocket booster exhausts and the water from the noise suppression system. At ignition, the SRBs release large volumes of gasses containing aluminum oxides,carbon monoxides and hydrogen chloride gas. The HCL gas combines with the water from the noise suppression system to form an acid. Hence the launch of the shuttle generates a hellish noise,heat and toxic environment as seen in the picture.
Remarks: Space shuttle Commander Mark Kelly and his five crewmates are on their way to the International Space Station after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 8:56 a.m. EDT. The STS-134 mission is the penultimate orbiter flight and the final one for shuttle Endeavour.
As part of the orbital insertion the shuttle stack had to get into a trajectory that keeps it in low Earth orbit (LEO) by skirting the surface of the the Earth. She is flipping onto her back to get the correct attitude for the LEO orbital insertion.
Remarks: Space shuttle Commander Mark Kelly and his five crewmates are on their way to the International Space Station after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 8:56 a.m. EDT. The STS-134 mission is the penultimate orbiter flight and the final one for shuttle Endeavour.
"This mission represents the power of teamwork, commitment and exploration," Commander Mark Kelly said shortly before liftoff. "It is in the DNA of our great country to reach for the stars and explore. We must not stop. To all the millions watching today including our spouses, children, family and friends, we thank you for
your support."
Remarks: Endeavour's last launch on 04/29 was postponed because of a heater issue associated with the
shuttle's hydraulic power system. The problematic Aft Load Control Unit is located inside the avionics bay #05 whose yellow door and location is clearly seen in this picture (next the blueball NASA logo). Workers will access the unit by entering via that door while she is in the vertical position and delicately troubleshoot,replace and retest the systems.
The shuttle has three Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) that provide hydraulic power to steer the vehicle during ascent and entry. NASA launch commit criteria and flight rules require all three APUs to be fully operational for launch.
Remarks: "Endeavour's twang" at the moment of main engine start on her last night launch.I was 4 miles due south of Pad 39A and using a Canon 1Ds MKII with 1200mm L IS lens (600mm;2X). This shuttle launch phenomenon is affectionately referred to by astronauts as "the twang." When the main engines fire at T-5 seconds, the entire shuttle stack bends thanks to the instant spike of thrust. As soon as the shuttle snaps back upright, the solid rocket boosters ignite and the shuttle blasts off. As you can seen the stack has rocked forward and hence is not straight when compared to the launch pad. In a fraction of a second, the SRBs will fire and the resultant instantaneous water vapor cloud will envelop the stack and pad. On her last launch (5/16), the same events occurred except it was daylight.
Remarks: [Canon 1D Mark III + Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L] The James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the Udvar-Hazy Center, featuring the Space Shuttle Enterprise. Soon, the Enterprise will be turned over to the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City, and Udvar-Hazy will receive the Space Shuttle Discovery.
Remarks: Top view of the "Space Transportation System" (Space Shuttle) which is the combination of the orbiter, the external tank, and the 2 solid rocket booster ( the orbiter itself is usually incorrectly referred to as the "Space Shuttle" when it is not). Combined, these are referred to as the "Stack". "Endeavour" sits atop the Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP) in High Bay #03 for the last time and 2 days before final rollout to launch pad 39A. The platforms that are surrounding the stack are retractable.
Remarks: It is 0400H and the 3rd shift crew has just lifted “Endeavour” off the Orbiter Transporter System (OTS). This will allow the 90 degree rotation needed to get into ET/SRB mate position. They are seen in High Bay #3 (right side) already “stacked” on top of the Mobile Launch Platform (MLP). Often missed is the dedication & absolute brilliance of the thousands of unheralded workers who carry out the very serious shuttle ops. These men & women deserve better than layoffs at the end of the program.
Remarks: "Endeavour" ready to receive her Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer ($2billion experiment to help figure out the beginning of the Universe) before dawn. Taken to the pad in the night and then hoisted up into the Rotating Service Structure (RSS),the AMS is in the white box. From there, the payload is taken out of the white box into the clean room there.Then, the RSS rotates back to envelope the orbiter. Note the yellow bumpers placed around the orbiter cargo doors. Once enveloped,the cargo doors are open while maintaining the clean room atmosphere. The payload is transferred from the clean room of the RSS into the clean payload bay of the orbiter. This is the primary payload for STS-134 to the International Space Station.
Remarks: Another bittersweet moment for the Space Transportation System (STS) program as 'Endeavour" departs high Bay #3 of the 525 foot tall Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for the last time. The top of the "stack" is approx 225 feet from ground. So this is a 22 story building traveling at 0.08 mph. The Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) for STS-135 can be seen in the crack of door of high bay #1. The lights are to illuminate the stack as she takes the 3.1 mile trek to pad 39A.
